Kieran Maguire makes ‘very tasty’ West Ham takeover claim amid Sullivan verdict
David Sullivan was spot on about PAI Capital’s aspirations to buy West Ham – they are treating it as more of a property than a football deal.
So says finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the latest developments in the takeover saga.
Leading figures in PAI have focused heavily on monetising the Olympic Park and claims it has reached a long-term lease agreement with the LLDC.
Speaking to BBC Sport in July, Sullivan claimed that the rejected PAI approach was “property not a football deal”.
And Maguire insists that the Hammers’ majority shareholder’s verdict rings true as PAI’s position becomes clearer.
“I think David Sullivan has got a point here,” he told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams.
“Given the existing arrangement that West Ham have, they are tenants there.
“Gold and Sullivan are not popular and in the ideal world, that relationship is best moving on to new owners.
“But PAI are viewing this purely from a financial perspective. Ultimately, it’s some very tasty-looking real estate. It has the opportunity to be monetised.
“West Ham have made some progress in terms of trying to improve the atmosphere. It’s slow progress but it’s better than nothing.
“But if we were to have a poll today, I still think the majority of fans would vote to sell the club and keep their fingers crossed.
“But there is a significant number of fans who are feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the lack of professionalism.”
In other news, pundit backs Premier League centre-back to make “easy transition” to West Ham after Sky update.